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PPV Reports
RADICAN'S WWE NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS PPV BLOG 7/26: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Orton vs. Hunter vs. Cena PPV Jul 26, 2009 - 9:54:35 PM
(1) Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, Jr.
-- Jericho gets on the mike and shows us a video of Edge's surgery. Okay. He whines about Edge and introduces The Big Show. The bar pops. ... Show has some new gear on.
-- No heat for the opener so far. Well, that's what you get with a heel vs. heel match and slow paced action formula. ... Good nearfall with Show spear on Ted, but Cody makes the save. Show wins moments later by tapping out Ted with his hold. (*3/4)
Punk Promo
-- Punk cuts a promo to a mixed reaction from the bar. Punk takes the mic and goes into the arena. He asks the people why they support Hardy. ... He asks the Hardy fans to stand up. Punk says he doesn't like anyone that supports Hardy. He calls them enablers. Good promo. ... What's the point, though, to build a match we already paid for?
(2) Tommy Dreamer vs. Christian
-- Not much to this one so far. Dead crowd. ... Christian counters the DDT into the Unprettier and the bar crowd likes it. The match? It was okay. (*1/4)
(3) Six-pack U.S. Title match
-- Lots of guys are in the ring at the same time. Carlito hits a nice flip dive to the outside on MVP. ... Nice spot with Miz hitting his finisher on MVP while MVP hits his on Swagger. Kingston sneaks in at the end and pins Carlito. (**)
-- Orton cuts a promo backstage to a mixed reaction from the bar. Orton asks for respect from the fans. He says he will remain champion.
(4) Michelle McCool vs. Melina
-- Huge pop for the dropkick of Melina while she did her entrance...and Melina sells it for about one second. ... Melina takes a DDT on the top of the ring barrier. It actually looks like it hurt a little this time. ... McCool gets the pin despite a spirited performance from Melina. Strong contender for MOTN. (*3/4)
-- Cena is backstage. The bar boos him as he looks thoughtful. Orton defends against Cena and Triple H next!
(5) Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. John Cena
-- Orton nearly hits the RKO on Triple H, but Orton counters with a DDT. ... Check that Triple H counters with a DDT, but Cena runs in and takes them both out until Orton dumps everyone outside. ... Huge bar pop for counter of Orton's double DDT into double backdrop to the outside. ... Bar is going nus for Cena-Triple H counterfest. Triple H finally wins the exchange with a spinebuster.
-- Cena with the STFU on the announce table, but Orton breaks it up. Fans are still going nuts here. ... Cena with STFU on Triple H. I predict a punt coming. ... No punt, but Cena nearly wins with rollup! ... Orton is standing tall over Tripe H and Orton while he picks hem apart, but Triple H is alive and fires back on Orton.
-- Cena gets dumped and Triple H has the sharpshooter on Orton. Oh my! ... Wait, Cena has STF on with sharpshooter. Orton taps and ref can't decide who to award the match to. Legacy runs in for DQ finish. ... Nevermind. There's no DQ here, so Orton gives Cena the RKO while he had Cody up for the FU for the pin. (***1/4)
(6) Maryse vs. Mickie James
-- Maryse with a chinlock early on. ... And another chinlock. Wow they can't do more than this! ... Mickie hits the big DDT for the pin. Blah match. (*3/4)
(7) Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler
-- Ziggler gets a two count with a powerslam. The action spills outside and Mysterio nails Dolph with a flying senton off the apron. ... Dolph escapes a 619 and dumps Rey to the outside. ... Ziggler has Rey in the full nelson of doom, but Rey escapes. Dolph gets it again. Boring! ... Ziggler gets a nice nearfall, but Rey fires back with the springboard splash/619 combo. (**)
(8) C.M. Punk vs. Jeff Hardy
-- This has to be really really good to save this PPV. ... Punk crashes and burns early on after missing a suicide dive. ... Hardy misses a splash a short time later to the outside, but manages to just beat the ten count. ... Punk whips out the bow and arrow. I haven't seen that hold on WWE TV in a while unless I just forgot. ... Hardy fires back with a falcon arrow off the top. The action is picking up as Hardy is on a roll.
-- Hardy misses the swanton and Punk nails him with a double underhook backbreaker followed by a Dragon Sleeper, but Jeff escapes. ... Hardy fires back, hits the TOF, but Punk gets his knees up on the swanton. ... Punk counters the TOF and Hardy kicks out of the G2S.
-- Punk gets frustrated and walks up the ramp with the title. Hardy gets him and tosses him back into the ring. ... Hardy hits TOF and swanton for the pin. Is Hardy under contract; is he just staying through Summerslam? Stay tuned, folks! (***1/2)
-- Overall recommendation: don't order the replay.
Torch columnist Sean Radican is Tweeting on tonight's WWE PPV. We'll post his "blog" throughout the night with ongoing thoughts on the PPV.
Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.
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AND NEW FOR 2009! Monthly "Vintage Audio Torch Talks." We are releasing for the first time ever audio versions of our text Torch Talk updates, the historical first series of insider interviews ever. Wade Keller's newsmaking in-depth interviews with wrestling's biggest names are now being made available exclusively to VIP members. But you must be a member each month, as these are not archived, so they are replaced with a new one each month! This debuted in January 2009 with a 68 minute interview with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Who's next? Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff? The Rock? Goldberg? Jeff Hardy?
